Projectile



Jam. 13, 1942. POMEROY 2,269,475

PROJ ECTILE Filed May 29, 1939 ef Ja 41a f JOHN PoM'ERoY STATES PATENT ortica IPROJECTILE John Pomeroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,467 7 Claims. (Cl. 1055-30) This invention relates in general to projectiles ad more particularly has reference to projectiles; the explosive or combined explosive and inndiary type. An object of this. invention is to provide a fojectile for destroying war equipment, such a aeroplanes, engines, fuselage and struts and. r piercing light armor plate. Another object of this invention is to provide lprojectile having a detonating charge therein aced from the impact head of the projectile that piercing of a target by the projectile will effected prior to detonatlon of the"\charge iereby ignition of the charge will be eiected thin the interior of the target, rather than on the surface thereof. A further object of this invention is to provide projectile adapted to be projected with a high eed of rotation about its axis and having a arge therein comprising nitroglycerine admixed th a detonation reducing carrier from which z nitroglycerine will be separated by centriful force upon projection to increase the detoting properties of the charge. Still another object of this invention is to proe a projectile adapted to be projected with a :h speed of rotation about its axis and hava charge therein comprising nitroglycerine nixed with a detonation reducing carrier from ich the nitroglycerine will be separated by cen- 'ugal force upon projection to increase the onating properties of the charge, said projecalso containing an incendiary charge. l still further object of this invention is to vide a projectile adapted to be projected with igh speed of rotation about its axis and hava charge therein comprising nitroglycerine iixed with a detonation reducing carrier from ch the nitroglycerine will be separated by trifugal force upon projection to increase thev mating properties of the charge, and a linof lead between said projectile and the charge. lith vthese and other important objects in 1, which may be incident to my improvements, invention resides in the parts and combinas to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, 1 the understanding that the several neceselements comprising my invention may be ed in construction, proportions anti arrangelt, without departing from the spirit and 50 `e of the appended claims. l the drawing: gure 1 is a sectional view of a projectile concted in accordance with one form of the ent invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another form of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar tc Fig. 1 illustrating still another form of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a projectile in which the detonating charge container protrudes beyond the head of the projectile.

In Fig. l of the drawing there is shown a projectile comprising an outer casing i which may be formed of a cupro-nickel alloy or other suitable material.` This casing is formed with a head which tapers to a point or to a small diameter in accordance with the particular purpose for which the projectile is to be used. A.

detonating charge container or capsule 2 of relatively thin'material, such as thin copper, is provided within the interior of the projectile casing l. The container 2 is shaped somewhat similarly to casing i and is mounted within said' casing with its head portion nested within the head portion of said casing. This provides a considerable area of contact between the interior surface of the easing head 'i and the outer surface of the head portion 6 of the container or capsule 2. This construction insures the transmission of the impact of the head 1 of the projectile with a target to the head of the charge container 2 and the transmission to the head 6 of heat generated by frictionalengagement of head l with a target. i

As clearly shown in the drawing, a space is provided between the body portion of the casing l and the charge container 2. This space and the portion of the casing rearwardly ofthe container 2 are filled with lead.

In assembling the projectile of Fig. 1, the charge container or capsule 2 is filled with a charge and is then itted into a bore provided in the lead plug or body 8. The lower end of the bore is provided with a peripheral annular recess into which the lower edge 9 of the wall of the container or capsule 2 is received to effectively seal the container against escape of the nitroglycerine. The exterior of the lead plug or body 8 is shaped to merge with the contour of the head 6 of the container 2 and snugly fit into the casing I. After insertion of'the lead core or plug 8 carrying the container 2 in the casing l, a disc 4 of mica', as-

bestos or metal is placed thereon and the base edge 5 of the casing is turned in to retain the disc and core of lead in place.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a construction slightly diil'erent from that of Fig. 1 in that a hard war head' I0 is nested in the head la of the outer casing la. This construction is more suitable for penetrating armor. As shown in Fig. 2, the lead plug has a bore II in which a charge container or capsule 2a is slidably mounted. The bore II is longer than the container 2a to provide for displacement of the container 2 upon impact of the head. against a target. Container 2a is filled with a charge and positioned in the bottom of the bore I I. The lead core 8a is then positioned in the casing Ia against the head I and secured in place by the disc 4a and the inturned base edge 5a. There is sufficient friction between the container 2a and the bore II to retain the container in the bottom of thebore. space is provided between the container 2a and the head I0. between the impact of the head against the target and the impact of 'the container 2a against said head so that the head will have penetrated the target before'detonation of the charge in the container.

Another form of the present invention is shown in Fig. 3, in which the projectile comprises a shell I2 having a bore I3 therein. The bore is'clcsed at the base of the shell by two threaded plugs I4 and I5. A lead plug or core 8b is slidably mounted in the bore I3 with sufficient friction to retain it near the base of the shell. As in the other forms of the present invention, a charge container is provided. This container 2b may be mounted in the lead plug or core 8b as in the case of Fig. 1 and protrudes from the head end of the core. The action of the construction of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a highly sensitive bullet,

in which the charge container is adapted to first engage the target. This construction is similar to that of Fig. 1 with the exception that the head of the casing Ic is open and the container 2c protrudes beyond the open head of the casing. This bullet may be used for big game hunting and is useful in that it will detonate against doped fabric of aeroplanes.

The projectiles or bullets of the present invention are all adapted to be projected from ried barrels so as to impart rotation to the projectiles. This rotation is essential to the effective operaticn of the invention.

Each of the charge containers or capsules contains a charge of nitroglycerine admixed with Aan anti-detonatin',Y cr detcnating reducing carrier. The carrier may be kieselguhr, gelatine or any of the carriers used for making dynamite and from which the nitroglycerine may be separated by centrifugal force. With such a charge the projectile may be handled and projected from a gun with safety. While in flight the projectile rotates at high speed and the centrifugal action separates the nitroglycerine from its carrier. The free nitroglycerine may then be detonated by impact of the projectile against the target or by impact of the charge container against the head of the projectile after penetration of the target.

I have found that particularly valuable results are obtained by projecting the projectile of the present invention at a velocity of approximately 1100 feet per second from a ried bore of such pitch as to impart a rotary speed sufficient to effect separation of the nitroglycerine from its carrier. I have found that a rotary speed of approximately 500 revolutions per second produces effective results. Higher velocities of 2200 and 2800 feet per second give very satisfactory results.

Thus, a-

This space provides a time delay In addition to the nitroglycerine and its carrie the charge containers may carry an incendiar charge. Such incendiary charge may compri: phosphorus, cordite or other suitable infiarr mable material. This incendiary charge may l mixed with the detonating charge. The pr( portions of the detonating and incendiai charges may vary. I have found that useful mi: tures may contain from V3 to 2/3 detonatir charge. When the incendiary charge is to l mixed with the nitroglycerine and its carrie cordite is satisfactory as the incendiary charg I have also found red phosphorus useful as separate incendiary charge.

It is advisable to make the heads ofthe co1 tainers very thin to facilitate detonation of tl charge carried therein.

The lead lining between the casing of tl projectile and the charge container present all forms of my invention serves to reduce tl danger of detonation of the projectile prior projection.

While I have shown and described the preferrl embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be ui derstood that I do not confine myself to tl precise details herein set forth by way of illu tration, as it is apparent that many chang and variations may be made therein by tho. skilled in the art, without departing from tl spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A projectile adapted to be projected with r tation about its axis, comprising an outer casir a charge container in said casing and spac from the inner walls thereof, a charge of nitr glycerine admixed with a detonation reducii carrier and from which the nitroglycerine separated by centrifugal force after projectil to render it susceptible to detonation upon ir pact, in said container, and a lining of lead i: terposed between the casing and the contains the heads of said casing and container being substantially the same configuration and tI head of said container being nested in the he: of the said casing in contact therewith.

2. In a projectile of the character described, i outer casing of tubular form having a clos head end, the head of said projectile taperii toward the closed end thereof, a thin tubul container in said casing of a diameter less th: that of the casing, said container having a clos head end having an external contour identical the interior contour of thev head of the casing, t head of said container being nested in direct co tact within the head of the casing whereby sho and heat will be readily transmitted through t contacting walls of the casing and container ai detonating material in said container.

3. In a projectile of the character described, 1 outer casing of tubular form having a closed he end, the head of said projectile tapering towa the closed end thereof, a thin tubular contain in said casing of a diameter less than that of t casing,'said container having a closed head e: having an external contour identical to the i terior contour of the head of the casing, the he of said container being nested in direct cont: within the head of the casing whereby shock a heat will be readily-transmitted through the co tacting walls of the casing and container, a mi ture of nitroglycerine and a carrier in said co tainer, said a lead filling between the spaced Wa of said container and casing.

4. In a projectile of the character describl n outer casing of tubular form having a closed lead end, the head of said projectile tapering owardvthe closed end thereof, a thin tubularv :ontainer in said casing of a diameter less thanv hat of the casing, said container having a closed lead end having an external contour identica o the interior contour of the head of the casing, he head of said container being nested in diect contact within the head of the casing where- -y shock and heat will be readily transmitted hrough the contacting walls of the casing and ontainer, a mixture of nitroglycerine and a carier in said container, and a lead lling between he spaced walls of said container and casing, aid lead filling extending partly into the open nd of the container to seal said open end.

5. In a projectile of the character described, n outer casing of tubular form having a closed .ead end, the head of said projectile tapering award the closed end thereof, a thin tubular ontainer in said casing of a diameter less than hat of the casing, said container having a closed .ead end having an external contour identical to ne interior contour of the head of the casing. he head of said container being nested in direct :intact within the head of the casing whereby noci; and heat will be readily transmitted irough the contacting walls of the casing and container, a charge of nitroglycerine in said container, and a lead body in said casing having a bore to receive said container whereby the space between the non-contacting surfaces of said container and casing will be filled with lead, the bottom of the bore of said lead body having an annular recess therein to receive the open end of said container and seal the latter.

6. In a projectile, an outer casing, a thin charge container positioned in the outer casing, said container having a closed forward end and a rear open end, detonating material in said container and a lling of lead in said outer casing between said casing and container, said lead extending into the open rear end of the container and sealing the latter. l

7. In a projectile, an outer casing having an opening in its forward end, a thin detonating- 

